Share Your Stories and Wave the Banner for Student Journalism Across the Country on Feb. 23
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
To celebrate the fifth annual Student Press Freedom Day on Thursday, the New England First Amendment Coalition and its partners are highlighting the story of two former student newspaper editors who encountered censorship at Burlington (Vt.) High School in 2018.
Jenna Peterson is now a junior at the University of Southern California and managing editor at the Daily Trojan. Halle Newman is now a senior at Wesleyan University where she reported for the Wesleyan Argus.
In the above video (produced by former student journalist Katherine Hapgood who recently graduated from Boston University) Jenna and Halle recount their experience battling censorship at Burlington High School’s The Register and reflect on the lessons they learned.
NEFAC, the Student Press Law Center, the New England Newspaper & Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists New England are calling on all student journalists to share their own stories this week to celebrate Student Press Freedom Day.
Student journalists across the United States use the occasion each year to raise awareness of the challenges they face, celebrate their contributions to their schools and communities, and take actions to protect and restore their First Amendment freedoms.
Here’s how you can participate:
On Thursday, share an experience you had as a student journalist pushing back against censorship. Or share with us why you think student journalism is so valuable to your community.
Upload a video to your social media of choice and make sure to tag it: #StudentPressFreedom
NEFAC was formed in 2006 to advance and protect the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society. Our members include lawyers, journalists, historians, academics and private citizens.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
Leadership Circle donors include the Rhode Island Foundation, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters include Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, Genie Gannett for the First Amendment Museum, Linda Pizzuti Henry, the Champa Charitable Foundation Fund, Connecticut Public and GBH-Boston.